The larvae of the two species of Gortyna found in Britain 

 are very similar, and resemble those of Cossus, Zeuzera, 

 .^geria, and other internal feeders in their fleshy appearance, 

 and in producing only a few short and scattered hairs; a por- 

 tion also of the 1st pectoral articulation immediately behind 

 the head appears to be horny and polished like a scale, as it 

 frequently is in caterpillars of similar oeconomy. It seems, in- 

 deed, that where the habits of very different types are alike in 

 any one of their stages, there is not uncommonly such an ana- 

 logy in appearance and structure, that were it not for the dis- 

 similarity in the other stages, we should be justified in consi- 

 dering such resemblances close affinities : it is therefore evi- 

 dent that extensive knowledge and the most scrupulous in- 

 vestigation are necessary to avoid error and arrive at truth. 



The works of Sepp and Hubner, of Messrs. Treitschke, 

 Duponchel, and Dr. Horsfield, are daily throwing light upon 

 this beautiful order, the natural arrangement of which is ex- 

 tremely difficult, and no portion more so than the Noctuidae. 

 They may however be formed into large groups by the larvae, 

 some having sixteen, others fourteen feet and less : the former 

 of these might be again divided by a most characteristic mark 

 which no one has taken advantage of, — a large portion (of 

 which Agrotis is the type) crossing their superior wings hori- 

 zontally when at rest ; the remainder having them meeting over 

 the back, and forming a triangle more or less deflexed. 



1. G. micacea Esp. — Curtis Brit. Ent. pi. 252. 



Was formerly considered a rare insect in this country, but 

 is now in most cabinets ; and Mr. Stone has received a very 

 fine series from Ireland. The caterpillar and the plant (sup- 

 posed by M. Duponchel to be one of the Cyperaceae), are 

 copied from Hiibner. The moth I have taken in July by the 

 sides of ditches in Norfolk ; and the female figured was found 

 in Battersea Fields the middle of August, by Mr. C. Fox. 



2. G. flavago Esp., Hiib., Oc/i., Goda. — rutilago Fab. — 



Lappae Don. 10. 34-0. 1. — ochracea Hub. Bcyt., 



Haw., Sepp. v.l. p. 13. tab. 4. 

 This beautiful moth is found the middle of September in the 

 neighbourhood of the Burdock [Arctium Lappa), in the stems 

 of which the larvae feed ; they destroy the pith ; and Dr. Ste- 

 phenson informs me they may be found in June in the heat of 

 the day, by the drooping of those plants which contain the 

 caterpillars ; holes will also be found in such stems ; and if 

 they be cut down and placed in water, they may be easily 

 reared. They are said also to attack Verhascuvi Thapsus, 

 Scrophularia aquatica (PI. 32), and Sambiicus nigra. 



